Safety apparatus foe condensing engines



(No- Model) 2 Sh'eets-She,et l.

C. C. WORTHINGTON.- SAFETY APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING ENGINES.A l l No. 317,069. Patented May 5, 1885.

lllm

lllll lllll (No Model.)

V h 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. G. WORTHINGTON.

SAFETY APPARATUS EUR GONDENSING ENGINES. No. 317,069.

Patented May 5f 1885.

N, PEYERS. FnolwLimogf-Jphu. wnshingmn. D. C,

UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

CHARLES C. WORTHINGTON,

voE invirtieron), NEW YORK.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,069, dated May 5, 1885. Y

Application filed February '7, 1885.

scribed and represented in the following specication and the accompanying drawings, forming a partof the same.

The improvements constituting the Vpresent invention are applicable alike to all classes of condensers, whether of the injector "or ejector or other form, in which a pump is employed to withdraw the water and air from the condenser and assist in maintaining the proper vacuum. In operating engines, vacuum-pans, and other apparatus provided with such condensers serious damage has sometimes been occasioned by the failure of the pump to withdraw the water from the condenser as fast as it accumulates therein. This failure of the pump to properly withdraw the water from the condenser is sometimes occasioned by carelessness on the part of the engineer in not regulating the iiow of the condensing water to conform to the speed ofthe pump, thus allowing an amount of water to enter the condenser which it is beyond thecapacity of the pump to withdraw. It is also sometimes occasioned by the pump getting temporarily out of order, so as not to operate properly, or by some obstruction between the condenser and the pump. It is more frequently occasioned, however, by the failure of the engineer to shut off the flow of the condensing water before stopping the pump. Whenever the water is allowed to flow into the condenser after the pump has been stopped, or in greater quantity than can be withdrawn by the pump, it will accumulate and fill the condenser so as to destroy the vacuum, and, if no means are provided for withdrawing it, it will finally overflow and iiood the cylinder or cylinders of the engine, or the vacuum-pan, or other apparatus with which the condenser is connected, and thus, in the case of a pan, cause damage to the contents; or, in the case of an engine, endanger the parts, if the engine should be working at the time, or if any attempt is made to start or run the engine before the wa- (No model.)

ter has been withdrawn from the cylinder or cylinders. g

It is the object of the present inventionto provide means by which any water which may for any reason accumulate in the condenser `will be withdrawn or allowed to escape before it has risen sufficiently to overflow and dood the engine or other apparatus with which the condenser is connected; [The details of the apparatus by which this is effected will now be particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one ofthe common forms of injector or ejectorvcondensers provided with a safety apparatus embodying the present invention in a simple form. Fig.

2 is a sectional elevation of theV safety apparatus. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the same with the top or cover removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section ofthe same. f Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the reverse position. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the invention -embodied in a different form. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same construction, showing the parts in the reverse position; and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of an ordinary condenser, which is adapted to operate in connection with an airpump, showing the present invention applied thereto.

Referring to Figs. l to 7, it is to be"under stood that A B is the pipe leading from the exhaust ofthe engine or from the vacuum-pan or other apparatus to the condenser E, which condenser, as before stated, may be of any approved form. The condenser shown in Fig. I, which has been selected for the purpose of illustration, is, however, of substantially the construction shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 227,342. Located at some convenient point inthe pipe A B is a casing or enlargement, C, which is arranged to extend below the pipe, so as to form a chamber, D,in which any water passing through the pipe A B will accumulate. The casing G is provided upon one side at or near its bottom with an opening, c, which is covered by an outwardly-opening hinged valve, d, the edge of the opening being made to form a seat-for the valve and provided with a rubber or other suitable packing, e, which serves to form a ICO perfectly tight joint between the casing and the valve. The opening ct where the pipe A B enters the casing D is covered by an inwardly-opening hinged valve, b, similar to the valve d, the edges of this opening being also made to form a seat for the valve, and provided with a packing, f, similar to the packing e, which serves to form a perfectly tight joint between the casing and the valve. The casing D is provided at its top with a removable cover, g, through which access can be had to the interior for the insertion and repair or removal of the valve b.

rIhe operation of the apparatus is as follows: As long as the water is being properly withdrawn from the condenser E, so as to maintain the proper vacuum therein and in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine or other apparatus to which the condenser is connected, the pressure of the atmosphere will hold the valve d closed, as shown in Fig. 2, while the valve b will be swung away from its seat by the exhaust-steam so as to allow the steam to pass freely through the pipe A B to the condenser, as indicated by the arrows in said figure. If, however, at any time, either from the stopping of the pump or for any other reason, the water accumulates in the condenser to such an extent as to enter the pipe A B and flow toward the engine or other apparatus to which the condenser is connected, it will fall into and accumulate in the chamber D. As the water rises in the chamber D the vacuum in the chamber will be reduced in tension, so that the valve b will fall to its seat, as shown in Fig. 5, and prevent the water from passing through the opening a and flooding the engine or other apparatus. By the time cr shortly after the valve b has been thus closed the pressure of the water accumulated in the chamber D will open the valve d, so that the water will be allowed to escape through the openingc, as also shown in Fig. 5, and at the same time admit the air so as to entirely destroy thevacuum in the chamber D, and this will continue as long as the water continues to iiow into the chamber. As soon as the water ceases to ilowinto the chamberD and the pump again begins to create a vacuum in the pipe A B and the chamber the pressure of the atmosphere will at once close the valve d, and the valve b will be opened by the force of the exhaust-steam when the engine is again started.

The casing or enlargement C may, and preferably will, be provided at its bottom with a small drain-pipe, h, leading either to the condenser or to a steam-trap, by which 'any water resulting from condensation will be withdrawn from the chamber D.

The apparatus just described may, as will readily be seen, be varied considerably as to its details without departing from the principle of the invention. For example, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the part A of the pipe A B, instead of being connected to the side of the casing C, may be connected to the top of the casing, and the opening a controlled by a floatvalve b, instead of a hinged valve. In such case the valve b will be guided by a stem, c', extending from the top of the valve and passing through a guide, 7c, located in the center of the opening a. The valve will be supported when in its open position by a projection, w, extending from the bottom of the casing C, and may also be provided with a number of lateral projections, Z, which rest against the sides of the casing G. In this construction the bottom g of the casing will preferably be made removable to gain access to the valve b.

The operation of the apparatus when thus constructed is substantially the same as already described. As long as the pump keeps the water withdrawn from Ytle condenser so as to maintain the vacuum in the pipe A B and chamber D the valve d will be held closed, and the valve b will fall to the position shown in Fig. 6. As soon, however, as the water fills the condenser, so as to flow through the pipe A B into the chamber D, the valve b will be raised by the water so as to close the opening a, and as soon as or immediately after this takes place the pressure of the water will open the valve d, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to allow the water to escape.

It is to be understood that the valves b d may be of other forms than those shown without departing from the invention. The forms shown are regarded as the best for the purpose; but any other form which will perform the function required may be used without departing from the invention. It will also be seen that in either of the constructions shown the portion B of the pipe A B may be connected to the bottom of the casing or enlargement C, instead of to the side, and in such case the pipe B will perform the same function as the drain-pipe, and will clear the chamber D of the water of condensation.

In those cases where the condenser is of the common form which is used in connection with an air-pump the casing or enlargement C in the pipe A B may be dispensed with, and the valves b d arranged in the condenser, as shown in Fig. 8, E being the condenser, F the pipe leading to the pump, and G the pipe for the condensing water. In this case the operation will be the same as already described. The valve d will be held closed as long as the vacuum is maintained in the condenser; but as soon as the water accumulates in the condenser so as to destroy the vacuum the valve b will rise to its seat and the valve d be opened so as to allow the water to escape.

In some cases it may be desired to deliver the exhaust-steam from more than one engine or other apparatus to a single condenser, so that more than one exhaust-pipe will enter the casing C or the condenser. In such case the single valve b may be arranged to close all the pipes, or there may be one of the valves b provided for each pipe entering the casing or condenser.

In those cases where the pump which withdraws the water from the condenser forces IOO IIO

the water into an elevated tank it sometimes happens that the valves of the pump become so worn or disordered that after the pump has stopped the water from the tank will leak backward through the pump to the condenser and nally low into thepipe A B. If this happens, the valve b will be closed and the valve d opened, so as to allow the Water to escape and thus prevent damage.

The apparatus maybe provided with a pipe or trough by which the water escaping through the opening e will be conducted away from the apparatus and delivered at some convenient point of discharge.

What I claim isl. The combination, with a condenser, of the valves b d, the former arranged to close the pipe or pipes through which the exhaustjsteam enters the condenser, and the latter arranged to open outward or to the atmosphere to allow the escape of the water and destroy the vacuum, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the condenser, and the pipe or pipes through which the exhauststeam is conducted thereto, of the casing C, forming the chamber D, for the collection of the condensing water, and the valves b d, the former arranged to close the pipe or pipes through which the steam enters the condenser, and the latter arranged to open outward or to the atmosphere to allow the escape of the water and destroy the vacuum, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the condenser, and the pipe or pipes through which the exhauststeam is conducted thereto, of thevcasingv or enlargement G, forming the chamber D for the collection of the condensing water, the valves 

